A statement by an Average Joe"" and subsequent response led to a flurry of activity regarding the tax policy of the democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. The passage, to follow, harkens of socialistic qualities often akin to communist nations of past.
As quoted from the Associated Press on Oct. 16: ""In Ohio on Sunday [Oct. 12], Obama was approached by a man who said, 'Your new tax plan's going to tax me more.'
A video clip caught by Fox News shows Obama replying, 'It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too. And I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody.""
To me, this seems fundamentally against the American Dream including the capitalism which ensures that this dream is even possible.
Why penalize those in society who are the thinkers and movers, who strive for, and ultimately achieve their American dream? Should those who are self-reliant and capable of individual achievement be punished for advancing the progress of the nation and the world?
The former questions and issue lead to a more personal philosophical discussion which happens to be in line with the theory of objectivism by Ayn Rand, a 20th Century writer best known for her works: ""The Fountainhead"" and ""Atlas Shrugged"" - titles many of you may have read in high school English courses.
Rand explains that there are two types of people in the world: the thinkers and the leeches. In life, it is far easier to be a leech, waiting for the vitality and compensation [money] of the thinkers to be ""spread around."" Rand states that man's ""own happiness [should be] the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.""
Why take the easy way and waste your mind? To waste one's mind is perhaps the worst action a person could enact in life.
But hey, in the current state of the economy where the concept of responsibility seems to be anything but present, why be a thinker if the government will be there to always bail you out, to take from the progress of the thinkers and ""spread the wealth around"" because ""it's good for everybody?""
Such a move is good for everybody, except (and the leeches of society seem to forget this) the thinkers, who know their limits and take responsibility for their actions whether right or wrong. Those who do not ask for handouts from anyone, who loathe the concept of a leech, and who ultimately take pleasure in the advancement and progress of a nation. These thinkers are contrary to the leeches who want to know that their current state is secured and then might inquire as to the state of the nation, but are often found to be apathetic because their ""needs"" for the short term have been met.
Leeches don't concern themselves with this since they can do as you wish with no worries about responsibility for their actions. Many of these actions take the form of bankruptcy due to spending more than they have (contradictory to a common lesson taught in childhood) and failed financial institutions to name a few. If you ask me the nation needs a big wake up call to return it back to the basic values of taking responsibility for one's actions and knowing not to overextend oneself.
The one value that I hold above all others is to always be accountable for my actions and to logically evaluate all components of a situation before taking action. This seems pretty simple, right? Yet, it has proved increasingly difficult as exemplified by today's current events. Let us not make the same mistakes as previous generations. Let us learn from these mistakes, avoid the temptation to ""spread the wealth around"" and choose to all be thinkers.
I believe the examination of this issue is key not only for this election but as students graduate and look for careers in a field that meet their unique set of skills. For you are some of the thinkers and movers of tomorrow since you have already shown continued initiative to advance your personal knowledge. Take pride in this but heed the warning that it may be your productivity that will be leeched by those in society who wish to ""spread the wealth around.""
I urge you to please consider this issue when you are casting your ballot on Nov. 4th.
Sean McMaster is a junior majoring in biochemistry and mathematics and is the co-treasurer of Students For McCain. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
